Carolyn Steele

I am a snorkaholic. The very first time that I put a mask and I discovered the magic underwater world of reefs, I was hung forever. It was the experience of diving with Tuba that really opened my eyes to the diversity of nature as a whole. I am always inspired by the astonishing color, the complexity and the beauty of the fauna that I observed during my years of travel in the Caribbean. My images are made up of elements that a nature lover could meet during a morning walk or an apnea diving afternoon.
I grew up in England and, when I was small, I took private art courses in the countryside where I created detailed studies of flora and fauna on various supports. My father, also an artist, inspired me and encouraged me from the start. I started painting Tables from the Caribbean in 1992, in order to extend the memory of my visits to the Antilles.


I have a graphics training, which helped me develop my sense of composition, an important element of all my paintings. In graphics/lithography, I was limited in my use of color. Painting the tropics allowed me to release my creativity. I like to work in large. I rarely work below 18 x 24 inches, and most of my paintings are on watercolor paper of 22 x 30 inches and 300 pounds.

I am involved in nature and conservation education, which is why I donate part of my profits to the preservation of fauna and reefs. I hope that my works will decorate and make the incredible variety and fragility of the biosystems I paint appreciate. The majority of species represented here are indigenous in the Antilles, and many of them are in danger.